Beyond Appearances: Overcoming Hypocrisy
April 2026
By: Casey Brooks - Grace Harbor Church Member
In Matthew 23:27, Jesus delivers a scathing public rebuke of the cultural and religious heroes of the day—the Scribes and Pharisees. He says, “Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and every kind of impurity.”
It’s easy for us to build a caricature of what a hypocrite looks like—a cartoonish figure who publicly portrays one thing while secretly being something entirely opposite. Maybe you think of a two-faced politician who finishes a speech about caring for the poor and then curses the homeless who obstruct their drive home. Because of this, we can easily miss the heart of this teaching and how we, too, sometimes fall under the same rebuke.
Jesus’ warning about hypocrisy is not only about obvious deception, but about the subtle danger of valuing outward appearance over inward righteousness—both in others and in ourselves. We are all susceptible to being fooled by outward appearances, and we are also prone to using appearances to shape what others think of us. For that reason, I want to invite you to consider two ways in which we are susceptible to this error—and one, hopefully meaningful, correction.
1 — What we value in others
Even if this isn’t a glaring weakness for you—if you’re not being outright tricked by others who put on a front—are there still times when we misplace value?
Jesus isn’t teaching us to despise public displays of righteousness, but to refuse to confuse them with true inner righteousness. Otherwise, it’s like a whitewashed tomb: pretending something is beautiful while hiding death and decay beneath the surface. Jesus is teaching us to value integrity—to value what He values.
Think about the Beatitudes. When Jesus described those who were blessed, He didn’t point to the impressive or influential. He pointed to the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the humble, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness (Matthew 5:1–12).
Do you agree?
Who receives your attention and appreciation?
Is it those who have a public-facing ministry? Or do you, like Jesus, clearly value the humble, the gentle, the quietly faithful?
As you consider who you should follow—who you should ask to disciple you—don’t think only of those with public-facing ministries. Think of those whose character reminds you of Jesus, whose lives resemble the Beatitudes. These people are worthy of imitation. Follow them as they follow Christ.
2 — How we want to be valued
We all want to be thought well of. It’s hardwired into us. There’s almost no better feeling than affirmation. And this isn’t entirely wrong—but it becomes a problem when we want the recognition more than the work.
So let me ask you:
Do you want to be known as a person who prays a lot…
or do you want to pray a lot?
Do you want others to think of you as someone who is always doing good works…
or do you want to be devoted to good works?
Let me remind you of the fruit of the Spirit, as Paul records in Galatians 5: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
If you want to avoid hypocrisy, pursue a life marked by that fruit. The consistent outworking of these qualities becomes real evidence of true inner godliness.
3 — How can we overcome this way of thinking?
So what can we do? If this is such a subtle and persistent danger—if we are so intrinsically susceptible to mis-valuing outward appearances over inner godliness, how do we combat it?
Someone wiser than me once said:
“The poison of the church is hypocrisy, and the antidote to that poison is confession.”
We are all inclined to hide our faults and display our strengths. Left unchecked, that will lead to hypocrisy—and that will poison both you and the church. But the antidote is simple: confession.
1 John 1:8-9 says. “If we say, 'We have no sin,’ we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
When we confess our sin, we properly place ourselves at the foot of the cross, identifying as sinners in need of grace. And in Jesus, we find grace without end - all our sins forgiven. This is the gospel: hypocrites like us can be forgiven and reconciled to God through the cross of Christ.
You don’t have to confess all your sin to everyone, but maybe tell one more person than you’d like to—talk to your spouse, your roommate, your pastor or mentor, someone who will point you to Christ.
As we confess our sins to one another, we practice the gospel. And as we do, our love for Jesus deepens, and we begin to crave His approval more than the praise of people.
When we are overcome with the fear of man—when we’re overly concerned with what others think of us—what we really need is a bigger view of God. Our craving for affirmation, our longing for recognition, the pleasure we feel when others appreciate us—these aren’t inherently wrong; they’re just misplaced.
You were made for something better than the praise of people. You were made for the praise of the Father.
When you finish the race set before you, trusting Jesus all the way to glory, God the Father will say to you, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
The accolades of heaven belong to you in Christ. Let that motivate you toward true, beautiful inner godliness—even if it comes through ugly confession.
